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Key men back for first Test

Greg Buckle, Chennai

SCORING 241 against an Indian Board XI doesn't sound like a good way to start a tour, but Australia does have a few excuses up its sleeve.

Four of its top six batsmen likely to play in the first Test in Chennai from February 22 were missing.

David Warner, Phil Hughes, Shane Watson and Michael Clarke can be expected to add starch to the line-up.

Having a tail starting at No. 7 didn't help on Tuesday.

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Still, there can be little doubt dusty tracks are on the horizon and even an uncapped off-spinner like 23-year-old Parvez Rassol, who claimed 7-45, can make the tourists look awkward against the turning ball.

Skipper Clarke averaged 8.75 in his previous Test tour of India in 2010, but since then has averaged 61 in 25 matches, including eight hundreds.

Hughes, Matthew Wade and openers Ed Cowan and Warner haven't played a Test in India, but Wade showed plenty of fight for his 35 at No. 3 in this match.

The Australians have been encouraged by their coaching staff to find an attacking shot that works against the spinners and stick with it.

''At least they are trying to put pressure on the bowlers,'' said Cowan, who top-scored with 58 and appeared unlucky to be adjudged caught behind.

''If you were just propped on the crease defending you were playing into the spinners' hands.

''Those guys would probably re-evaluate. Their shots were on but their execution probably wasn't as pure as they would have liked.''

Australia's three-day game against India A starts on Saturday with the fitness of Clarke (hamstring) and Warner (thumb) to be assessed.

Clarke jogged several laps of the oval during day two of the match in Chennai on Wednesday in an encouraging sign that the skipper will play.

Clarke has been rested from the opening two-day game in which the India Board XI reached 3-61 at lunch.

Australia would be pleased with the form of off-spinner Nathan Lyon (1-26 off seven overs) and bowling all-rounder Moises Henriques (2-1 off three).

Lyon made the initial breakthrough for the tourists on day two.

Robin Uthappa was brilliantly caught by Glenn Maxwell at mid-wicket for 24. Henriques struck with his second delivery when Mandeep Singh was caught behind attempting a hook shot on three.

Henriques also rattled the stumps of opener Abhinav Mukund for 21 with a ball that kept low.